10 Nonprofit Groups Share Service Awards : Recognition: Food Pantry, Special Olympics, theater group are among the agencies receiving $5,000 Los Angeles Times grants.

Ten local nonprofit organizations received a total of $50,000 in grants from the Los Angeles Times San Fernando Valley and Ventura County editions at the newspaper’s annual Community Partnership Awards presentation Monday.

Each $5,000 award, announced at a luncheon ceremony, went to an agency that supplies outstanding community service, said Jeffrey S. Klein, president of the Valley and Ventura editions.

“We wanted to encourage the great community work that these organizations do,” Klein said. “We need to spotlight and publicize their efforts.”

In the San Fernando Valley, the North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry was awarded a grant in the Social Services category for distributing food bags and providing referrals to needy families.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Winnetka was awarded a grant in the same category for an outreach program that provides clothing and other services for the poor.

“I am still on Cloud Nine,” said Esther Ulmer, founder and coordinator of the Our Redeemer church program. “This kind of money isn’t easy to come by.”

TreePeople in Studio City was awarded a grant in the Environmental/Ecology services category. Members replanted trees burned in recent fires.

Antelope Valley Special Olympics in Lancaster was awarded a grant in the Health Services category for an athletic training program for mentally disabled youths and adults.

Families Caring for Families/Partners for Infant Needs of Lancaster was awarded a grant in the same category. Its family resource center provides access and support services for physically or emotionally impaired children.

The 31st District PTSA of Van Nuys was awarded a grant in the same category for the Telfair Health Center Optometry Clinic.

Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre of Newhall was awarded a grant in the Cultural Arts category. Its educational outreach program brings live theater to elementary and high schools.

In Ventura County, the Boys & Girls Club of Camarillo was awarded a grant in the Youth/Education Services category. Its Academic Olympics program provides guidance to children 6 to 18.

El Centrito De La Colonia of Oxnard was awarded a grant in the same category for the youth and family prevention and intervention program. The program enhances self-esteem and improves the academic and employment skills of local youths.

Fillmore Senior Center was awarded a grant in the Senior Citizen Services category for a program that promotes physical, mental, social and economic well-being for the elderly.

The Community Partnership Awards were established in 1990 by The Times to recognize and reward nonprofit groups in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys and in Ventura County. About 220 organizations applied for this year’s grants, Klein said.

An 11-member panel of community and business leaders picked the winners.